Volume Two: Second Scroll
Battle of the Endgame (1)
Pour this packet of medicine into his water cup.
“Speak! Where is the transaction location?!”
The interrogation room was brightly lit, the incandescent lamp so bright it was almost piercing to the eye. The captured criminal suspect sitting opposite was extremely sleepy, his head nodding bit by bit, and when he was shouted awake again by the police, he was suddenly startled and jumpy, nearly bouncing up from his seat.
Because he had not closed his eyes for five days and five nights, physiological sleepiness caused tears to seep from the corners of his eyes.
In these five days, he of course had not eaten well either, having been under surprise interrogation the entire time. The police could rest in shifts, but he could only endure. His eye sockets were sunken, his lips were dry and cracked, and he looked extremely wretched.
“Police Officer Comrade, big brother, I really don’t know…” The man was weeping bitter tears while speaking incoherently.
The police officers sitting opposite exchanged a glance. Someone knocked on the door: “Time to eat, it’s mealtime. Steamed pork with rice flour1, sticky rice chicken2, fish-fragrant shredded pork3, and white rice.”
Over the past few days, they had not deprived him of food, but it was all just plain congee, steamed buns, and small side dishes. The moment the criminal suspect heard there was meat, although he had not yet seen it, his eyes already began to glow green, and he was swallowing his saliva frantically.
Those few police officers closed their notebooks and stood up. The man breathed a sigh of relief, thinking he could finally close his eyes and sleep for a while.
Who knew that the iron door would open again, and two criminal police officers walked in, carrying notebooks under their arms.
This cycle repeated itself over and over. Whether day or night, the light in the interrogation room was never turned off.
Just past twelve o’clock midnight, the door to the interrogation room opened once again. A criminal police officer ran out, holding a folder.
Command Center.
Zhao Junfeng looked at the interrogation record that was handed in, and a hint of a smile appeared at the corner of his lips: “Go, steamed pork with rice flour, sticky rice chicken, fish-fragrant shredded pork, and white rice, prepare a portion for him as well.”
Not long after, a junior police officer walked into the interrogation room carrying a boxed meal.
Feng Jianguo could not help but sigh with admiration: “Director Zhao’s move is truly brilliant.”
Facing his former subordinate, Zhao Junfeng also relaxed a lot. He lifted his teacup, took a sip, and smiled.
“Not at all. Man is iron, food is steel. One can’t take drugs every day, but one must always eat every meal.”
Speaking of drugs, a trace of worry gathered between his brows again.
“Bring the map.”
Several people scrambled to spread the map of Jiangcheng City out in front of him, and it was simultaneously displayed on the electronic screen.
Zhao Junfeng drew a line with a pen: “The transaction location that the drug trafficker confessed to is near the third navigation channel bridge of the Wang Hai Grand Bridge4. At that time, the cargo ship carrying the drugs will sail from here and complete the transaction with the buyer, flowing into our country’s territory through a nearby port.”
Feng Jianguo’s brow furrowed. Before he could speak, someone who knew the business said: “The water depth under the Wang Hai Grand Bridge can reach 50 meters, and the navigable tonnage is ten thousand tons. Since it opened, freight traffic has been busy, with an endless stream of ships. It is one of our country’s golden waterways. I’m afraid it won’t be easy to inspect.”
How could Zhao Junfeng not have considered what he said? He slowly raised his head and looked at the somewhat absent-minded Feng Jianguo.
“Lao Feng, what do you think?”
The information Lin Yan gave was Zhongjing Industrial Port; the location Zhao Junfeng’s side had interrogated out was the navigation channel under the Wang Hai Grand Bridge.
Which was true and which was false, at this very moment, there was naturally no way to verify.
He pretended to be woken up, covering his lips as he yawned.
“Ah, I actually think there’s some sense to it. Look…” His fingertip swiped across the electronic display screen, circling a few areas.
“Although the waters under the Wang Hai Grand Bridge are one of the busiest shipping lanes in the West Sea, as long as they pass through this section, heading east, and bypass an artificial island.”
Feng Jianguo’s finger tapped heavily on the map twice.
“Another 212 nautical miles ahead is the high seas.”
This distance was not far at sea. If an ordinary cargo ship traveled at a speed of 12 knots per hour, it would take less than 24 hours to sail out of Chinese territorial waters. By then, there would be nothing more they could do about these drug traffickers, and could only request that Interpol cooperate in the operation. After a whole set of tedious formalities, the drug traffickers would have long since vanished without a trace. Therefore, they absolutely could not drag it out until that time.
Zhao Junfeng’s brows furrowed tightly. After a long while, a wave of authority emanated from his wrinkled face. He slammed his hand on the table, and the teacup jumped.
“No matter what, we absolutely cannot let the drug traffickers escape to the high seas. Pass on my order, begin the operation immediately. Since they are going to transact at sea, they will definitely need to load and unload goods at a pier. Investigate all major ports and shipping companies, and don’t let even the small fishing boats go!”
“Yes!” Hu Senji saluted, preparing to turn and go out to arrange the deployment, but was called to a halt again.
Zhao Junfeng glanced at Feng Jianguo.
“The territory of Jiangcheng is still more familiar to the people from the Criminal Investigation Detachment. Let them go.”
Since he had said so, Feng Jianguo naturally had no objection. Xue Rui and the people from the Municipal Anti-Drug Detachment accepted the order and went out.
The operations command room became busy once again.
Zhao Junfeng sat in front of the electronic display screen without moving from his spot. He inadvertently glanced at his sleeve cuff and said nonchalantly.
“When did you go out?”
A few hours ago, he had secretly gone to see Song Yuhang. It was raining outside, and he had not had time to change his clothes yet.
The cuff area was slightly damp from the water droplets that had slid down from the umbrella he was holding, which indicated that the place he went to was still some distance from the Municipal Bureau.
Feng Jianguo calmly pulled out a tissue and wiped it: “Hah, even this was seen by you. Wasn’t I just thinking that it’s going to be another few days and nights of not being able to go home? My granddaughter is very clingy with me, so I went back to coax her a bit. Look, she even got drool on me, really.”
The old man lifted his teacup and took a sip. A hint of a smile appeared in his eyes, along with some regret.
“Once the case is closed, go back and spend some good time with the child.”
“That’s true. My son and daughter both work out of town, so at home, it’s just my old wife accompanying my granddaughter. It’s quite pitiful.”
“Oh, right.” He seemed to recall something inadvertently: “I heard Song Yuhang was injured again.”
“A street dispute. Got slashed by someone. The person has already been locked up.”
Feng Jianguo explained, and at the end, added another sentence.
“She’s recuperating at the Municipal Hospital. Do you want to go see her?”
Zhao Junfeng turned his face away.
“No need. I can’t leave the Municipal Bureau at this critical juncture. Besides, if anyone is to visit, it should be her coming to see me!”
By the time he finished speaking, he was already blowing his beard and glaring with his eyes5.
Feng Jianguo smiled, the folds of fat on his face bunching up together, looking very much like a shrewd and fawning fox.
“That’s right, that’s right. You are correct.”
Although there was no need to fight on the front line, the work in the laboratory was also endless.
While Fang Xin was burying her head in hard work at the lab bench, someone unexpectedly knocked on the glass in front of her.
Duan Cheng mouthed: See you on the rooftop.
Fang Xin rolled her eyes, too lazy to bother with him.
But that person cupped his hands again, making a pleading gesture: Please, please.
Fang Xin was helpless and had no choice but to make an “OK” sign.
After a while, when she had changed her clothes and climbed up to the rooftop, the rain had already lightened. In the parking lot below, the police cars’ lights were flashing, and from time to time, police officers armed with loaded guns would jump into the cars.
A great battle was on the verge of breaking out.
Duan Cheng was not holding an umbrella, waiting for her in a loose pullover hoodie. In the past, his hair was always kept very long, his bangs covering his eyes, making him look just like a dead house-man6 addicted to anime. Now, however, he had a buzz cut. The bluish stubble on his head was identical to the one on his chin, which actually gave him a bit of a manly air.
Fang Xin was inwardly surprised by this small change in him, and also felt an indescribable shy palpitation.
“You… what did you want to see me for?”
And in a deserted place like this.
Duan Cheng scratched his head, which felt a bit prickly.
“Just got my hair cut yesterday. Does it look good?”
Fang Xin coughed twice for no reason, choked by her own saliva.
“It’s… it’s alright.”
Duan Cheng took a step forward: “Alright, which is to say, you like it?”
“Who… who likes it? Although the hairstyle isn’t bad, but…” Fang Xin retreated with a red face, stepping on a small stone under her foot. The road was slippery on a rainy day. She stumbled, and was steadied by someone.
“Careful!”
The arm that wrapped around her waist was firm and strong. The scent of male hormones rushed towards her. Their four eyes met, and both of their hearts began to beat violently.
Duan Cheng swallowed. His left hand kept touching the flannel box in his pocket.
His palm was full of sweat, and the usually glib-tongued person did not know how to speak.
It was Fang Xin who came back to her senses first. She pushed him away and stood properly with a red face.
“If there’s nothing else, I’ll be heading back first.”
“Hey…” Duan Cheng took two steps to follow, but the police sirens downstairs sounded again. The horn blew; setting out on the expedition could not be delayed.
A trace of struggle flashed across the big boy’s face.
Fang Xin’s beating heart gradually quieted down, and her complexion returned to normal. She turned to leave.
“I’m going back, little younger brother7. Don’t come and disturb big sister’s experiments if there’s nothing important.”
“When will you stop seeing me as a little kid?”
Fang Xin stopped in her tracks and gave him a strange look: “Then what should I see you as?”
“A man.” Duan Cheng raised his chin slightly. Seeing that the first police car had already slid out of the Municipal Bureau’s gate, the phone in his pocket was vibrating continuously.
He had no time left, so he could only manage to get close and plant a kiss on her forehead, then quickly ran downstairs, leaving behind a sentence, as well as the back of a man and the bluish nape of his neck.
“Wait for me to come back. I will prove to you that I am no longer a boy, but a man who can stand between heaven and earth8.”
Fang Xin was completely bewildered by this inexplicable sentence, yet there was also a trace of sweetness seeping into her heart. She touched the spot he had just kissed, and a smile hung on the corners of her lips.
He’s a fool. In her heart, perhaps it started from when he fired his gun at the murderer.
Duan Cheng was no longer a synonym for green and inexperienced. Otherwise, why would she have kept her distance from him?
The vibrant energy of a young person made her blush and her heart race, and it also made one feel a sense of yearning.
Fang Xin raised her eyes and looked towards the distant, pitch-black sky.
I hope the sky brightens soon, and that the one I love is safe and sound.
Four o’clock in the morning.
The time of day when a person is most drowsy.
Municipal Central Hospital.
The medical staff on duty at the triage desk were all asleep, slumped over the table. A trolley was slowly pushed over, a nurse carefully steadying the tray on it.
A doctor rubbed his eyes and raised his head: “This is…”
“It’s time to change the medicine for bed fifteen.”
He put on his glasses, picked up the medical record book and flipped through a few pages. It was indeed time. He waved his hand.
“Alright, you can go.”
The nurse nodded, pushed the medicine cart to the innermost room at the end of the corridor, took out a fingerprint card that had been copied long ago and verified it. The glass shield door gently popped open.
No one noticed this detail.
Song Yuhang was still lying on the bed, quietly receiving an IV drip, sleeping on her side, her breathing even.
That person placed the medicine cart against the wall, did not turn on the light, and pulled out a watermelon knife from under the tray, tiptoeing towards the bedside.
As long as her carotid artery was severed, not even an immortal could save her.
The man swallowed, walked to the bedside, and with a shua sound, whipped open the quilt to cut her throat. He stabbed down fiercely, and cotton wadding flew everywhere.
A fake, it’s a mannequin!
He was greatly alarmed. Before he could come back to his senses, a black shadow leaped out from the top of the wardrobe next to him, directly kicking the person onto the bed with a whip kick. The force, as heavy as a thousand jun9, landed on his head, causing him to foam at the mouth. The knife in his hand was about to fall to the ground and make a sound.
Song Yuhang pressed down hard on his arm to control him, then kicked upwards with her heel. The knife flew up, and she caught it with her right hand. She could have slit his throat cleanly, but instead, she smashed the handle of the knife fiercely against his solar xue10, knocking the person unconscious.
The man collapsed limply to the ground. Song Yuhang stripped off his clothes and put them on herself, picked up a hemp rope she had prepared earlier and tied the person up like a dumpling, then lifted him onto the bed. She did not forget to fasten one end of a pair of handcuffs to his wrist and the other to the bed’s railing. She then stuffed a pillowcase into his mouth to prevent him from shouting, and then hastily cleaned up the traces of the fight on the floor, put the watermelon knife into the medicine cart, and only then did she put on the nurse’s cap and walk out swaggeringly.
She had long expected that someone would come to kill her. She was just worrying about how to get away, so their arrival was perfectly timed.
After walking out of the intensive care unit’s corridor, she placed the medicine cart to the side and walked into the restroom.
Not long after, a young woman wearing a military green jacket, a duck-tongue cap, and a black mask walked out and disappeared into the crowd.
“How is it?”
The woman knelt on the ground, licking the powder on the tinfoil, nodding repeatedly, her disheveled hair making her look like a lapdog.
Lin Ge waved his hand, and his attendant took it away.
Jin Xia lunged forward: “No… don’t…”
Lin Ge lifted her face: “Be good. Help me do one thing. If you do it well, I’ll give you something better.”
Jin Xia was dazed. She looked again at the neatly arranged syringes to the side and swallowed.
“Wh-… what is it?”
Lin Ge personally helped her up, patted her hand with infinite tenderness and affection.
“You did a good job with the poisoning last time. The old thing’s body is getting worse day by day. Dragging it on is also suffering. It would be better to let him attain… sublime… joy… early.”
He said each word distinctly, with a hint of gritting his teeth. He stuffed a small packet of powder into her hand.
“Go. I’ll be waiting for your good news.”
Jin Xia was terrified, shrinking back as if she were holding a hot potato: “No… no… I don’t dare… Wh-… what is this?”
“Arsenic trioxide, commonly known as ‘arsenic’.” Lin Ge was all smiles. He did not let go of her hand, forcing her backwards step by step.
“You can choose not to go. Your drug use, your illegal fundraising, your partying naked with several male actors in a villa… It doesn’t even have to wait until dawn. I can make it spread like wildfire on social media right now.”
Tears rolled down from the corners of Jin Xia’s eyes. Her lips trembled as she sobbed: “You… you’re not human… a beast in clothing and hat11!”
“You’re right.” Lin Ge gently kissed the side of her neck.
“It’s best to be obedient in front of a beast, otherwise I can’t guarantee what I might do, Miss Jin.”
He lifted her face again, gently wiping away her tears.
“I promise you, after this is done, I will marry you as my wife. Those other matters will be written off, and I will destroy the recordings too. And you will have a lifetime supply of inexhaustible new toys.”
“I will give you the best. Go now. It’s time for you to repay me.”
Lin Ge’s words seemed to have a magical power, his pitch-black pupils drawing her to fall continuously downward.
Jin Xia gradually stopped crying and clenched the powder packet tightly.
Lin Residence.
Besides Butler Lin, there was one other person who could freely enter and leave this place.
The sky was not yet light. Butler Lin would not arrive for another hour to take care of Lin Youyuan’s daily needs.
Like Lin Yan, he did not like having servants live in his home.
Thus, in the pre-dawn Lin Residence, there were only a few bodyguards standing at the entrance. The vast estate was empty.
And those few bodyguards would not stop her; they even respectfully opened the main gate for her.
Every step the woman took was like dancing on the edge of a knife. Especially after going upstairs, she began to swallow her saliva frantically. The cold sweat constantly seeping from her palms made the powder packet somewhat damp.
Lin Ge’s words echoed in her ears.
“You don’t need to do anything. Just pour this packet of medicine into his water cup.”
“No one will suspect you. Go, go boldly. When you come back, we’ll get married.”
With a soft creak, Jin Xia gently pushed open the bedroom door. Lin Youyuan was lying flat on the bed, wearing an oxygen mask, skinny as a skeleton, his face ashen. He looked as if his days were numbered.
Due to nervousness, she kept swallowing her saliva, inching forward on tiptoe, with the utmost caution.
A short walk of just a few steps took her several minutes.
For some reason, seeing him lying there quietly, Jin Xia also felt fear, as if he were a hibernating male lion.
If she made the slightest move, she would startle him, and he would then bite through her neck.
She was so frightened by her own fantasy that she was covered in sweat, her eyes red. Before she could move to the bedside, the person on the bed suddenly began to cough violently.
“Cough, cough, cough…”
Jin Xia was startled and fell to the ground. Seeing him coughing incessantly without any other movement, she then crawled up and rushed over.
“Master, Master…”
After speaking, she gently helped him up, patting his back to soothe his breathing.
Lin Youyuan opened his cloudy eyes and glanced at her.
“It’s you.”
After speaking, he turned his back again and started coughing.
Jin Xia picked up the water cup on the table, took the water bottle and added some hot water. It was unclear whether it was due to fear or something else, but her hands were trembling when she handed it to him.
“Master, drink some water.”
Lin Youyuan took a sip from her hand and only then felt a little better. He squinted his eyes to size her up.
“Why have you come?”
Jin Xia forced a smile: “I came to see you.”
“You still know to come back?!” Lin Youyuan raised his hand and slapped her across the face with a pa.
“Shameless thing! Did you think I don’t know about you fooling around outside?!”
Jin Xia clutched her face and lowered her head, feeling extremely wronged. A pitiful look appeared on her face, but in reality, a trace of viciousness flashed in her eyes.
It was this slap that stirred up her memories, those days of submitting to Lin Youyuan’s whims and enduring his mercurial temper, those days of having to feign satisfaction while stroking the flab on his body. It truly made her feel incomparably disgusted.
“I’m sorry, Master…” she wept bitter tears.
Before her words had faded, Lin Youyuan, perhaps angered, began to cough violently again. The spittoon was on the other side of the bed. He leaned over to cough, and Jin Xia picked up the cup of water again. With a shake of her sleeve, the powder fell like rustling leaves.
It quickly dissolved into nothingness in the water.
She knelt on the ground, enduring the foul stench of the patient’s vomit, smiling with false sincerity.
“Master, drink some water to feel better. I’ll go call the doctor.”
LP: Re-translated on August 29, 2025
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